25 June] 1897 – 31 August 1967) was a Soviet military officer and politician who served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Minsk City Council of People's Deputies.

Mikhail Kovalev was born to family of a peasants in stanitsa Bryukhovetskaya, Kuban Oblast.

After graduating from a School for Praporshchiks Kovalev fought in World War I commanding a platoon (polurota), company and then a battalion.

During the Russian Civil War he commanded a regiment and then a brigade in the Red Army participating in the fights against White Armies of Denikin, Wrangel and the peasant Tambov Rebellion of Alexander Antonov.

In July 1945 he became a vice-commander of the Transbaikal Front and participated in military actions against Japan.